Thread: What is the best calibre.........braid

Ive been using fireline for many years, good braid in smaller sizes, usually get 12-14 for salmon, pike, saltwater, rods and run 8 lb for trout rods, had a good run with it, and it seams to get softer and limper over time, is better for casting.
Just ordered a Diawai BG 2500 on Boxing Day and trying diawia J braid, 8 lbs,
I second getting line spooled at a sports store off the bulk, I've got several, spools of shorts, that are useless for anything, other than practice knot tieing,

Think I've been through all the common brands:

Fireline Exceed - very thin, but i've had trouble with knots slipping

Powerpro - very reliable, a bit thicker than some of the more modern stuff though

J-Braid - everyone likes it, but it lost me my first marlin, so I will never touch the stuff again!

I've come down to Powerpro Superslick and Suffix 832 which are very similar lines. They do everything you could reasonable expect of them.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Not anymore mate....they even make then with super slow oscillation now to increase casting distance specifically for braid.

What do you mean ' Not anymore mate' ??? I have two Stradics in different sizes and they are great with braid, however my older Abu's will jamb if the line is coming in with out enough tension as a fish races towards you then takes off. Older reels are not all OK with braid IMO

Originally Posted by jakewire

I just got some 8 strand for surf casting , but have decided to keep nylon for the river
just seems easier to manage to me, my excuse is I'm still coming to grips with knots on the braid.

@jakewire, maybe you went too thin with the braid on your river reel. The very thin stuff can be a problem but if you use a braid that is just a bit thinner than your normal mono it will cast well wont twist and best thing, if you stay with a high enough breaking strain the hooks on your lure will straighten and come off a snag instead of leaving gear in the river.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

What do you mean ' Not anymore mate' ??? I have two Stradics in different sizes and they are great with braid, however my older Abu's will jamb if the line is coming in with out enough tension as a fish races towards you then takes off. Older reels are not all OK with braid IMO

The old thinking was reels needed to have lots of crisscross but now feels are made with basically flat layup on the spool.

https://youtu.be/6m4Q4CnVq70

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Originally Posted by oraki

Mainly the Opihi. Since the dam went in, the river has never stopped flowing, so some get through every year to spawn. Pre dam the river dryed up and they had to rescue fish almost every year. Most people conveniently forget that when cursing the farmers for taking all the water

I used to fish the Waitaki back in the days when the big salmon runs were on, I haven't had a go for 15 years but I am going to take the boat out this season and give it a bash. I took the granddaughter out on the lake over Christmas and caught 3 trout so I'm keen to take the step up to the salmon again. It's funny because we caught the trout on the same rod, line, reel and lure her Dad used 20 years ago in exactly the same spot he caught a nice fish when he was 5 years old. Haven't used that rod at all since then so all the original gear still on it, even the thin line was fine as it's been kept in a dark spot under the house.